Calcium reactor settings

[dmbnpj]

My directions that are for my calcium reactor say to set it at a effluent put out of 6.5. It also says to use the bubble counter and set it for appox. 1 bubble every 1-3 seconds. Also, the effluent should "drip" out of the return line back into the sump. Well, I have had mine set that way for the last couple days and decided to check the ph this morning. The ph at those settings was above 8.1. In order to get the ph to 6.5 I adjusted the settings. In order to get a ph of 6.5 I have the CO2 bubbling like crazy now. Probably 10-15 bubbles per second and the water is "flowing" not dripping out of the return line. Should I keep it this way or should I go back to the way I had it before with only a bubble or two every few seconds and it "dripping" back into the sump?
Thanks for any help!
-Jeff

 

[auto_loader]

10 - 15 bubbles per second is too much.

I would lower the bubble count to start at 1 bubble per second. And reduce the effluent flow drip rate to a slow tricke, maybe start at 30 ml per minute. To make sure you get the flow rate set right, I always measured the flow rate by letting the effluent drip into a container for one minute and then use a syringe to measure how many ml are collected.

A couple of basic things to keep in mind is that you can lower the PH in your reactor by either increasing the amount of CO2, or lowering the drip rate of the effluent or a combination of the both. And the opposite will raise it. It sounds like both your drip rate and your bubble rate may be too fast. your probably dumping alot of CO2 gas back into the tank.

Where are you taking your PH measurement?
If you have a dual chamber reactor your PH of the effluent drip may not get as low as 6.5.

mine runs at about 7.0 with ARM media

This web site should help alot.
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/reactor.html

 

[auto_loader]

Another thing you said sounds odd. Which is your PH measures 8.1. Are you measuing the effluent at 8.1 or the whole aquaium PH. If your adding 10-15 bpm, thats almost not possible for the effluent to be at 8.1

Do you have a solenoid valve that has shut off the CO2 to the reactor possibly?

 

[dmbnpj]

Thanks for the help. The 8.1 is the ph of the effluent from the reactor. I am measuring in a cup collecting the effluent only. I do have a solenoid but the gauges are still reading regular pressure and the bubbles are still bubbling in the bubble counter. It is a single stage reactor.
So are you saying to keep the bubbles in the bubble counter at about 1-2 per second and drip slower (rather than dripping faster) into the sump and that will lower ph?

 

[auto_loader]

Thats where I would start.
Set it and let it run for 24 hours like that. Then either lower the drip rate or increase the CO2 to increase the PH.

The 8.1 just sounds way too high if your adding that much CO2. Something is not right with that.

What is the PH of your tank?
What instrument are you using to measure PH and is it calibrated properly. What reading do you get with your PH meter if you measure straight fresh RO water?

 

[douglaslindsey]

I keep mine around 6.5 ~ 6.8. I agree with auto. I would also make sure that you are not putting to much water into the reactor, but at a low rate. I had a problem w/mine plumbing off of my return pump. I couldn't adjust the rate right, so I added a needle valve to fine tune my flow rate. My bubble count is keeped at 10~12 per min. and about 60 drops per min on the effluent. All different types of reactors are different. What kind of reactor are you using? I'm using a Korilin 3002.

 

[dmbnpj]

The tank ph is 8.27
The effluent is 7.03 ph when:
1. CO2 is set at 50psi with approx. 1 bubble every 1-2 seconds in the bubble counter.
2. Drip rate is at 13 ml/minute

I am using a Hanna handheld checker for ph.

How do I get the ph to lower to the 6.5 area? Or are my settings ok?

 

[dmbnpj]

Also, it is a reef concepts calcium reactor and the ph of RO water is 10.00.

 

[dmbnpj]

bump

 

[douglaslindsey]

There are two ways to do so. One: A slower drip rate allowing more contact time in the reactor with the CO2. Or Two: more CO2. Never the less how you do it, it will take some time - up to a month to start seeing a difference in your calcium leave in your tank. It also depends on the type of media you use in your reactor. Some need less CO2 then others do. I use Knop Korallith.

 

[dmbnpj]

Im using ARM.